The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit has officially denied claims that the United States used Indian airspace to carry out airstrikes on Iran during its June 21 assault, codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer. The operation, aimed at targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, has sparked a wave of misinformation online, including allegations of Indian complicity.
According to General Dan Caine, Chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, the mission involved 125 aircraft and executed decoy maneuvers over the Pacific Ocean. Pentagon briefings confirm that the B-2 bombers and support aircraft were launched from bases within the continental United States.
Social media posts and unverified outlets had claimed that the U.S. aircraft passed through Indian airspace, accusing New Delhi of “silent support” for the operation. However, Indian authorities clarified that such a route is geographically implausible. India does not border Iran and any trajectory would require overflight of Pakistan, an adversarial nation that the U.S. routinely avoids in high-risk military operations.
Experts believe the false narrative may have originated from misinformation networks tied to regional rivalries. “It appears to be an attempt to drag India into a volatile situation unnecessarily,” said a senior geopolitical analyst.
India’s airspace is divided into four Flight Information Regions (FIRs) – Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata – none of which were involved in or alerted for any such overflight activity.
The PIB has called on the public to remain vigilant and avoid spreading unverified claims, especially amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. While the government has not yet announced action against those behind the disinformation, calls for accountability are growing among cyber and national security experts.
With no official reaction from Tehran regarding the debunked claim, India continues to monitor regional developments closely, prioritizing verified communication and geopolitical stability.
